In 2023, over 40 percent of medical technicians and licensed vocational nurses left West Anaheim, while the hospital racked up more than double the statewide average in patient complaints and state citations
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Frontline caregivers at Prime Healthcare’s West Anaheim Medical Center will hold a midday picket line on Tuesday, April 22 to inform community members how the hospital’s below market wages are forcing an exodus of caregivers, compromising patient care.
WHO/WHAT: Healthcare workers, including licensed vocational nurses, respiratory therapists and surgical techs wearing red, chanting and walking picket lines.
WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 22 in front of West Anaheim Medical Center, 3303 W. Orange Ave., Anaheim
“We’re losing so many good caregivers who can’t afford to stay,” said Grace Arrieta, a licensed vocational nurse at West Anaheim. “It feels like Prime sees our hospital as a profit center and is happy to churn through caregivers leaving entire departments constantly understaffed and patients struggling to get the level of care they should expect to receive at West Anaheim.”
Prime Healthcare has reported a $56 million net profit operating the 167-bed hospital between 2021 and 2023, the last three years for which data is available. However, the Southern California-based for-profit hospital company pays its approximately 160 licensed vocational nurses, respiratory therapists and medical technicians at West Anaheim significantly less than workers at the next closest Prime hospital, as well as other hospitals in the region. Keck-USC hospitals, whose caregivers are also represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, pay starting salaries that are on average 30 percent higher than what West Anaheim is offering for the same jobs.
Below-market pay has resulted in a turnover crisis at the hospital. In 2023, the last year for which data is available, West Anaheim lost 41 percent of its licensed vocational nurses and medical technicians — more than double the industry standard turnover rate of 18 percent for hospitals.
High turnover has resulted in lower staffing levels compromising patient care. In 2023 and 2024, West Anaheim was hit with 190 patient complaints — more than double the statewide average of 81 over that time period. Meanwhile, state regulators cited West Anaheim for 52 deficiencies over the past two years — more than double the statewide average of 21.
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The National Union of Healthcare Workers is a member-led movement that represents 19,000 healthcare workers in California and Hawai’i, including more than 4,700 Kaiser mental health professionals.
